We survived the Solstice. The end of the world. I
wasn’t particularly surprised...Were you? Long before that fateful day, I
learned about a different calendar that allows us to live longer…Because it
looks like we’re still here.
I refer to the Aztec calendar, the image that we
most associate with the Mayan calendar. But unlike the Mayan’s, and just like a
Timex, the Aztec calendar keeps on ticking… beyond 12/21/12. Not only that, but
the Aztec calendar—and the indigenous wisdom behind it—holds clues to how our
future will unfold. And how to ready ourselves for this new era…called the
Sixth Sun.
~
As
a cross-cultural shamanic practitioner, specializing in soul retrieval, I’ve
explored many wisdom streams to arrive at my current toolkit. The Toltec/Aztec
path has some very special practices to help us deal
with the full range of human foibles, when we’re faced with upcoming challenges
unique to this Sixth Sun.
~
I
first learned about this Sixth Sun from Aztec/Toltec teacher Sergio Magaña Ocelocoyotl (coyote
jaguar). A brilliant and eloquent young man, Sergio expertly bridges the
modern world with that of his indigenous teachers and ancestors. There is no
surprise that he was born with both Castilian and indigenous blood in his
veins. He shares practices that align us with ancient, universal rhythms, which
can evoke deep, positive change in our lives…if we do the work. He has been teaching in Mexico for over twelve
years, and in the US and Europe since 2010. Sergio has learned from great
masters in the Mexica lineage including Aztec Anubis, Xolotl
José Luis Chávez Martínez, keeper of the ancient
Nahuatl wisdom; Xolotl’s wife Alma, teacher of the feminine mysteries—healing
with obsidian tools and the popochcomitl,
or copal burner; and Hugo Nahui, a gifted scholar on stellar events and their
impact on our lives.
I was one of the lucky few who
was able to attend an authentic ceremony in Mexico on
the auspicious date of 12/21/12. Not
many also knew that at the Solstice there was a time of no time where the
Universe stood still and opportunity was possible. Picture this…
I am near
the Zocalo (main square) in Mexico City in ceremony officiated by Xolotl and his
priestess wife, Alma. It is the eight seconds of no-time at 5:13 a.m. The
circle is suddenly hushed. One hundred people, from all points of the globe, power
out to the universe our big intentions for ourselves, our families, countries
and planet, as the Sixth Sun dawns. A warm, tingly energy pours out from my
heart. I feel hugely expansive and peaceful, like time did stop and
anything was possible—perhaps we were changing the world in that very moment. When
the eight seconds were over, we resume our frenzied dancing as hummingbirds,
eagles, and macaws; miming the expert moves of native celebrants, and calling
in all they represent.
~
But
that was but a moment in time that marked an official goodbye to an old way of
being and ushered in the influence of the next “Sun”, the Sixth Sun. Each Era
spans 6,625 years. While the Fifth Sun was an era of outer conquest and seeking
wisdom and happiness in the world around us, the Sixth Sun ushers in an era of
inner listening—of working with the wisdom within—and deepens until it is in full
control on 12/21/2021. In other words, a time of reckoning with our shadow: those
cast-off parts of ourselves that we have buried away from our conscious
awareness. Those things we hide from ourselves. Often it is because of trauma
that we push both our gifts and negative experiences away from the light. Qualities
like insecurity, or jealousy—or even a talent for singing that never gets
expressed for fear of public humiliation—these things cause us pain. The shadow
can be positive as well as negative, and can help as well as hinder us. Unfortunately,
we usually end up acting out aspects of our shadow when they are repressed,
such as criticizing the successful artist or attacking the homosexual, be it
through a casual remark or worse. When others exhibit our shadow qualities, we
often have strong negative feelings toward these people, but never consider why
this might be. It is because they are expressing disowned
aspects of ourselves.
The
Aztec/Toltec tradition that Sergio presents helps people to realize that, yes,
we ALL have a shadow, whether we deny it or not. This is nothing to be ashamed
of…it is a human condition. Uniquely, this tradition provides tools, such as
the Obsidian Mirror, for actually making a connection—seeing, feeling, creating
awareness, and ownership—for the 15 aspects of the shadow—positive and
negative—that the tradition describes for us to work with. And then, if one
chooses, and with commitment and discipline, they can transform the harmful
aspects of their shadow to helpful ones. Turning one’s own worst enemy into
their inner hero. Becoming more effective in one’s life. The life-affirming
effects are similar to those gained through soul retrieval or other more
traditional psychotherapy methods that also work with dissociation.
Why
is it important to acknowledge and transform our shadow NOW? Because we live in
accelerated times. Even more so, after 12/21/12. Our thoughts and actions
manifest much more quickly now. This is one of the aspects of the Sixth Sun
Era, an era of “endarkenment”. We can create heaven or hell on this Earth much
easier now. The cosmos is assisting us. It is our choice which of the two we’d
like to create in our life. The “easy” path is to give in to inner
darkness—react without thinking, say something off the top of our head because
it’s a popular sentiment, but not something that’s been thought through as to
whether it really rings true in our heart. The challenge is to rise above our
“pain body” (as Eckhart Tolle calls it) of ourselves, our family, our culture, or
our country and shed light on our inner darkness. And in so doing, bring more
light and hope to the human condition at this point in time. When it is so
desperately needed.
~
I
was terrified to look at my shadow…as anyone would be…but knew it was my responsibility.
I’d worked with it before, but like peeling an onion, found there were more
layers. I got lucky. I was given an opportunity to work on mine in Mexico at an
auspicious moment in time. A significant relationship in my life had just
unraveled and ended. Additionally, I’d been experiencing the disorientation of
hot flashes, weight gain, hormonal fluctuations, and most significantly, an
urgency to address my inner victim—to no longer put up with people and
situations in my life anymore that were not in integrity. That were not
congruent with the path of dignity I needed to walk. I couldn’t tell if what
I’d been experiencing were growing pains, ascension symptoms, or something else.
I wanted to set some awareness and healing in motion by refocusing my attention
in ritual and connection with the Earth. To make sense—in a shamanic setting—of
the changes in my life. What better place to do this than the energetic center
of Mexico at this time in history?
~
I sit cross-legged in a temazcal, or
sweat lodge, also led by Xolotl and Alma. Unlike the Solstice ritual, this is a
very intimate, personal affair. Our lodge is a green reed dome, partially
covered by tarps. Clad in sarongs, shorts, and skivvies, our group of 20 crawls
to their places inside, as an eagle circles overhead under a clear blue dome—an
auspicious omen.
As the couple’s preteen girl and boy
play on the grassy lawn outside, I feel like we become the couple’s 20 children
as their gentle ministrations are translated from Spanish to English...but soon
realize, that here, in the temazcal, we are children of Earth parents who
possess deep, healing love but also claws and fangs.
Since I’d participated in over half a
dozen sweatlodges already, fear of the unknown had long vanished with my
initial one. Here, I eagerly anticipated the hermetic hug of the warm, dark
womb. I was joyful for the opportunity to step between the worlds, and outside
of the everyday world…something I hadn’t done in a while.
~
Introductions are made, and the
womb-like space feels initially safe and cozy. The first round of red hot
stones is pitchforked in; each rock cradled by very long, sharp tines that slide
inches from my bare leg. I release my breath when the final stone is placed, blessed,
and the door closed. Because I’d requested a personal healing for bronchitis, Xolotl
now ushers me to sit by the central fire pit, facing away from it. It’s a chill,
windy day outside, and I’m happy to abandon my drafty seat by the door. He sprinkles
water on the stones.
Luxuriating in the enveloping steam
bath, I’m now feeling held by my surrogate parents. Sighing deeply, I relax
into the comforting silence. Then…surprise! My back is whipped with a leafy
tree branch! I feel…oddly Catholic and almost laugh. The leaves don’t hurt, but
an occasional spark singes my skin for a microsecond. Had he touched the branch to the stones first?! Was my
hair going to burn?! I just had it done!
As gifted shamans, my “parents” know
what they are doing. The temazcal balances health, mind and emotions. Sometimes
certain plants are used to enhance the work and help the client with their
inner struggle to change; in particular Pirul (Pepper Plant), Rosemary, and Santa Maria (Spearmint). The practitioner asks the stones of the temazcal for balance and healing—touching them
briefly with the herb—and then taps the affected area on the client with the
plant. Xolotl and Alma believe sickness is caused by unbalanced energy;
resulting in chemical, physical, social, biological, and mind alterations.
Their methods to rebalance a person include temazcal, infusions, massage, cleansings, dancing, and breathing exercises. Most
importantly, as in other shamanic healing methods, faith assists the success of
the client’s inner work.
With each touch of the pepper branch, I
feel a fluttering inside my chest of dark wings, echoing those of the eagle
overhead. Shards of old grief, long buried, begin to surface. I gasp, cough,
and weep.
A couple hours later I emerge from the
lodge, absolutely radiant—my lungs and skin gloriously clear and hydrated. Purified
for the Solstice ceremony and respectful of Xolotl and Alma’s Earth parent power.
~
It
was only much later, as I assimilated all the work we did, that I realized my
personal growing pains simply mirrored those of Mother Earth. The angst of this
awareness wrenched my heart and made me feel a powerful, yet tender
responsibility for both her and myself. Wise new actions were and continue to
be called for. In some cases these actions involve culling—with intention—the things
that no longer contribute to the well-being of either my life or that of the
planet; such as a long-term acquaintance who refuses to walk a path of
integrity or cannot quit identifying with their inner victim. In other cases,
the new actions might be as simple of keeping a supply of reusable shopping
bags in the car, or driving more mindful of pedestrians, and with less haste. We
are birthing our new selves for this new era, as we agonize together with the
contractions, like Inanna comforting Ereshkigel in the underworld—stepping into
our darkness, forsaking our outer self-centered trappings of beauty or security
or being the superstar lone wolf…because it is called for. Not knowing whether
we’ll be dismembered by the process, or whether—like Osiris—we’ll be missing a
part of ourselves when the journey is over; but knowing that surely we will be
transformed. All the while we are being
forged and tempered into swords of better discernment, in the cave, in our chicomostoc, our cauldron of
transformation. Grappling with our shadow. Stepping into our portal to great
power.
It’s
time to seize our inner swords. To become better stewards of both our
shadow…and the planet. We are being called… This is what’s next.
Sergio
says, “We are entering the cycle of the Obsidian Eagle, a place where our dreams
and our enlightenment are attained through the path of darkness, through the
transformation of our own cave (shadow).”
Ometeotl. (And so it is!)
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